# US 10,312,621 B2 · Terminal connection structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,621 B2 - Document ID: US10312621B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/009,866 - Filed: 2018-06-15 - Published: 2019-01-24 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-20 - Assignees: Yazaki Corporation; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Yazaki Corporation; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Toshikazu Yoshioka; Yasuhiro Tanaka; Ato Nakano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312621B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/20: Pins, blades, or sockets shaped, or provided with separate member, to retain co-operating parts together - H01R 13/04: Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets - H01R 13/111: {co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section} - H01R 13/193: Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part {, e.g. zero insertion force or no friction} - H01R 4/184: {comprising a U-shaped wire-receiving portion} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A male terminal metal fitting including a male connector, a female terminal metal fitting including a female connector, and a holding structure that generates holding force therebetween are included. The holding structure includes two first holding bodies that are arranged between the male connector and the female connector in a region and that become contact points therebetween, two second holding bodies that are arranged between the male connector and the female connector in a region and that become contact points therebetween, and a third holding body that is arranged on an opposite side of the first holding bodies in a cylinder axis direction with respect to the second holding bodies and that becomes a contact point between the male connector and the female terminal metal fitting. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A terminal connection structure comprising: a male terminal metal fitting including a columnar or cylindrical male connector; a female terminal metal fitting including a female connector in which a columnar internal space into which the male connector is inserted in an axial direction is provided, and an electric wire connector to which a conductive portion of an electric wire is electrically connected; and a holding structure that is interposed between the male connector, housing of which into the internal space is completed, and the female terminal metal fitting and that generates holding force between the male connector and the female terminal metal fitting, wherein the holding structure includes two first holding bodies that are arranged between the male connector and the female connector in a first region of the internal space comparted into two regions in a cylinder axis direction of the female connector and that become contact points between the male connector and the female connector, two second holding bodies that are arranged between the male connector and the female connector in a second region of the internal space and that become contact points between the male connector and the female connector, and a third holding body that is arranged on an opposite side of the first holding bodies in the cylinder axis direction with respect to the second holding bodies and that becomes a contact point between the male connector and the female terminal metal fitting, the first holding bodies are respectively arranged, on a side of one opening of the female connector, in the two regions of the first region, the second holding bodies are respectively arranged, on a side of another opening of the female connector, in two regions formed by dividing the second region of the internal space into two, and the third holding body is arranged in such a manner as to be placed between the first holding bodies when seen in the cylinder axis direction of the female connector, wherein the two regions of the first region and the two regions of the second region are regions that are positioned, in a non-overlapping manner in respective radial directions, around an axis extending in the cylinder axis direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The terminal connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the first holding bodies are protruded from an inner peripheral surface of the female connector on the side of the one opening to be an insertion opening for the male connector, the second holding bodies are protruded from the inner peripheral surface of the female connector, and the third holding body is protruded from the female terminal metal fitting at a position closer to a side of the electric wire connector than the first holding bodies and the second holding bodies. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The terminal connection structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the first holding bodies and the second holding bodies has a convex curve surface to be a contact point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The terminal connection structure according to claim 2, wherein each of the first holding bodies and the second holding bodies has a convex curve surface to be a contact point. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The terminal connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the first holding bodies are arranged between the male connector and a bottom side of the female connector, and the second holding bodies are arranged between the male connector and a top side of the female connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The terminal connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the third holding body is configured to protrude from the female terminal metal fitting at a position closer to the electric wire connector, in the cylinder axis direction, than the first holding bodies and the second holding bodies before the male connector is inserted into the female connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The terminal connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the holding structure is positioned such that the male connector contacts the first holding bodies and the second holding bodies before contacting the third holding body, when the male connector is inserted into the female connector.